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Orange Chicken

Either I’ve
become such a food snob or the quality of Orange Chicken where we use to order
it has declined that I vowed not to have it anymore if I can’t make it
myself. It’s not difficult to make. But it’s a dish that can be the star of a meal when it's good and nasty
when it’s not prepared properly with the right amount of coating; the perfect
balance of crunch outside and moisture inside and finally- the sauce which can
make or unmake the dish. For me, it has to be tangy and citrus-y with
just a hint of sweetness and a certain kick that makes me reach out for more.

ORANGE CHICKEN

Ingredients:

2 lbs chicken breast cut into bite-size pieces

1 extra large egg, lightly beaten

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

zest of 1 orange

2 tbsp canola or vegetable oil

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup cornstarch

couple of shakes of 21 seasoning salute (optional)

Procedure:

Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper

Stir in the lightly beaten egg and vegetable oil followed by
the orange zest-set aside

Whisk together all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt and
freshly cracked black pepper (21-seasoning salute if using) then transfer to a
plate

Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep wok over medium heat (I use
a non-stick sauce pan)

Dredge chicken pieces in flour mixture and shake off excess
flour

Fry in small batches in preheated vegetable oil for 3-4
minutes or until golden and crisp

Transfer to a platter lined with paper towels

Repeat the process until all the pieces are cooked

Now it's time to make the sauce

First off, stir together the following in a medium bowl:

2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

2 tbsp water

5-6 tbsp brown sugar

5 tbsp white vinegar

2 tbsp rice wine vinegar

juice of 1 orange - set aside

Whisk a tablespoon of cornstarch into 1/4 cup water- set
aside (to thicken the sauce later)

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a sauce pan over medium heat and sauté the
following until fragrant;

1 tbsp ginger root sliced thinly

1 tbsp minced garlic

1 tbsp red pepper flakes (add less if you don't prefer spicy)

Add in the prepared soy sauce mix and bring to a boil

Add in fried chicken pieces tossing gently

Whisk the cornstarch mix and add to the chicken making sure
each piece is coated with the sauce